Tolliver, Wagner and Roenick share lead at Tahoe celebrity tournament

Former NHL star Jeremy Roenick and actor Jack Wagner shared the first-round lead with 26 points at the American Century Celebrity Golf Championship at Lake Tahoe on Friday.

Former NFL quarterback Billy Joe Tolliver was one point back in the modified Stableford scoring format that puts a premium on eagles and birdies and penalizes double bogeys.

Roenick, a nine-time NHL All-Star in his 20 seasons, was quite pleased with his start.

"Everything was going well for me," Roenick said. "I hit every second shot really well. My putter was good."

After retiring from hockey in last year, Roenick has been able to spend more time on his golf game.

"That's why I'm here because I haven't had the distraction of that ... National Hockey League to take away from my golf game," Roenick said. "It's a nice transition to get away from the sport that you kind of create yourself for and just to get out and enjoy it."

Wagner, the only entertainment star to win the championship, rolled in five birdies during his opening round. But it wasn't the birdie putts that kept his solid round in tact.

"One of those rounds where sometimes the best putt is a par putt or bogey putt. Today my best putt was a par putt," Wagner said.

Retired major league pitcher Mark Mulder and former quarterback Vinny Testaverde were another point back, followed by former hockey player Dan Quinn, a four-time champion, at 23 points.

"I could have shot a pretty low number. It is what it is," said, Quinn, who bogeyed two of his final three holes.

Eight-time winner Rick Rhoden, seeking to become the first to win the tournament three straight times, was another two points back, along with Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and former Washington Redskins quarterback Mark Rypien.

Play was delayed 48 minutes in the afternoon as a thunderstorm passed through Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course near Lake Tahoe. The second round of the 54-hole tourney continues Saturday.

Wagner sank a 10-foot par putt on the 12th hole and ran in a lengthy shot with his putter for par on the 17th hole.

The addition of Roenick, Testaverde and Mulder to a leaderboard usually reserved for few new contenders impressed Wagner.

"That's great," Wagner said. "The real test usually comes (Saturday), you know. Either the guys that are playing well continue to play well or some guys that may have played over their head seem to weed themselves out."

John Elway, Dale Jarrett and John Smoltz were among the top-20 scorers. Elway, who has yet to win the title, was tied for 10th with 20 points, Jarrett was 18th with 17 points and Smoltz shared 19th place with 16.

Michael Jordan had 13 points and was tied for 28th in the 82-player field. Charles Barkley, who resorted to playing one-handed, was last with -28 points.

Tolliver was among a few groups that finished his round before the delay. He birdied three holes on the front nine, but three bogeys minimized the two birdies he scored on the back nine. His round included a 370-yard drive on the 546-yard, par-5 16th hole.

"I've hit 370 before, but I've never hit a ball that solid," Tolliver said. "And for a guy that doesn't have a very good golf swing, it felt pretty good."

Tolliver believes the mammoth drive impressed NBC Sports analyst Dottie Pepper, a 17-time LPGA Tour winner who was present when the former San Diego Chargers QB hit the shot.

"When you get a chance, just ask Dottie Pepper who is the longest hitter she's ever seen. It's gotta be me," Tolliver said.

In the unique scoring format, players are awarded six points for a eagle, three points for a birdie, one point for a par, zero points for a bogey and minus two points for a double bogey.

The thunderstorm brought little rain, but loud thunder claps and several lightning strikes out on the course. Jonathan Ogden, an offensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens for 12 seasons, became quite uncomfortable when a lightning strike hit too close for comfort while he was on the 18th hole.

Ogden, the tallest player in the field at 6-foot-9, dropped the driver in his hands, and soon after play was halted by Tournament Director Mike Milthorpe.

"I saw a flash and there was a boom at the same time," said Ogden, who shrieked, according to his caddie Aaron Roques.

Tolliver, who has been struck by lightning before, said he felt uneasy over his final four holes.

"I was as nervous as could be from 15 in," he said.

Tolliver said he and three friends were knocked over by lightning while playing basketball on an outdoor court while he was in high school in Lubbock, Texas.

"It got on us real quick. It struck the backboard and knocked about four of us to the ground. Ever since then, I'm like, 'Hold on a minute." I'm a little scared."